The best travel mugs you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

All of the travel mugs we recommend should keep your coffee hot during and after the morning rush, but the Contigo Autoseal West Loop is the most versatile, easy-to-use choice for commuters.

A travel mug seems like it should be an easy purchase, but hold off on buying the first one to catch your eye in a big-box store. Any decent travel mug will keep your drink hot or cold for a few hours without leaking, but consider your habits before buying. Are you a car commuter who needs something that can fit securely in a cup holder? Do you want a mug that can be used one-handed while you scroll through Twitter on your phone? Will you be tossing the mug in your bag so you can savor it later at the office?

We combed through expert tests and roundups of travel mugs and read hundreds of owners’ reviews to find five of the best options in this crowded category. Our picks include a great all-around option for commuters, a mug that can keep your coffee hot enough to drink for an entire day, and a more rugged option for weekend play. We also include travel mugs with more appeal for design lovers and tea drinkers.

The best travel mug overall

Contigo

Why you'll love it: The Contigo Autoseal West Loop fits in your cup holders without rattling, its push-button spout won’t leak all over your clothes, and you can nab one for cheap.

Most people have a short list of must-haves when it comes to a travel mug: It has to keep a drink hot or cold for at least a few hours. It has to be comfortable to drink from. It can’t leak. And it has to be easy to grip or stow in a cup holder. The 20-ounce Contigo Autoseal West Loop ticks all those boxes for a very fair price — less than $15 in some cases.

The Autoseal’s name hints at the mug's best feature. Press a button to take a sip, then let go when you’re done. The lid reseals automatically, keeping dribbles off that fresh-from-the-cleaners shirt. According to Bloomberg, this clever system makes the Autoseal “best for klutzes,” because it locks liquid away even if the mug takes a tumble.

One-hand operation means your other hand stays free, whether you need to text, hang onto a steering wheel or brace yourself in a crowded subway car. Amazon reviewers say the lid lock is reliable, so if you want to toss the mug in a bag and enjoy your drink later in the day, you can do it without obsessively checking for spills.

The Autoseal’s double-walled stainless-steel body fits securely in most cup holders, and the lid is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Contigo recommends hand-washing the body of the mug. The lid is all one piece, so there are no small parts to lose in a crowded drawer or dish drainer. You can also get the Autoseal in at least a dozen colors and three sizes. As Lifehacker points out, tea drinkers can add a compatible infuser for steeping on the go.

Is the Autoseal perfect? Not quite. The Sweethome says it’s a great budget choice, but Zojirushi’s travel mugs are best when it comes to heat retention. Testers there also warn that plastic in the lid may wear down after a year or two of frequent use. Good Housekeeping likes the Autoseal, but says it can dent if you drop it.

Bottom line: For the average commuter, the Autoseal should more than suffice. It will keep your coffee drinkable all morning, and if it does eventually wear out, replacing it won’t break the bank.

Pros: Inexpensive, large capacity, one-hand design, resists leaks and spills, fits in cup holders, available in a range of colors and sizes

Cons: Won’t keep drinks as hot as some other mugs, plastic lid may wear out, prone to dents

The best travel mug for temperature fanatics

Zojirushi

Why you'll love it: The Zojirushi SM-SA48 Stainless Steel Mug is hard to beat for keeping coffee, tea, or other beverages hot or cold for hours, and it has a durable design that can withstand daily use and abuse.

When it comes down to it, one of the most important functions of a travel mug is keeping your drink at a consistent temperature. Whether you’re a stickler for a piping hot cup of joe or an ice-cold drink of water, this 16-ounce Zojirushi SM-SA48 has your back.

The Zojirushi nails temperature tests by The Sweethome. Fresh-brewed coffee is still a very drinkable 151 degrees after eight hours in this mug, the testers found. In fact, the mug does such a good job keeping heat in that testers recommend letting a hot drink cool down for a bit before sealing the mug — unless, of course, a burnt tongue is on your morning agenda. The mug also aced cold-drink tests, allowing ice water to warm a measly 4 degrees in eight hours.

Fortunately, thousands of Amazon reviewers say the Zojirushi is more than a one-trick pony. Many report that its stainless-steel body is surprisingly resistant to dents and dings, even when it’s dropped on concrete, and they say the lid lock is reliable enough for this mug to roll around in a bag without spilling. The spout is also designed to regulate the amount of liquid as you drink, and reviewers like that they don’t have to worry about excess liquid dribbling onto their clothes. It’s also available in three sizes and enough colors to satisfy most buyers.

The spout is also designed to regulate the amount of liquid as you drink, and reviewers like that they don’t have to worry about excess liquid dribbling onto their clothes. It’s available in three sizes and enough colors to satisfy most buyers, too.

Where does the Zojirushi falter? Owners have only minor quibbles: It’s narrow, so it may rattle around in cup holders, and some say the flip-top lid feels like it’s in the way when they’re drinking. You’ll also have to close the lid manually after you drink, which means it’s not really a mug you can always use with one hand. And none of it is dishwasher-safe, though Sweethome testers say it’s easy enough to clean with a bottle brush.

Pros: Unbeatable at keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, durable, leak-proof, available in a range of colors and sizes

Cons: Pricier for a travel mug, too narrow for some cup holders, flip-top lid bugs some while drinking, not dishwasher-safe

The best travel mug for adventures

CamelBak

Why you'll love it: The Camelbak Forge will do just fine on a morning commute, but it’s even more at home when you’re off the beaten path, boasting features that make it a little more rugged than the average travel mug.

Sometimes you just need to get away, and the 16-ounce Camelbak Forge wants to be the mug you grab for your next adventure.

One of its most unique features is a built-in finger-carry loop that means you can still keep two hands free and the loop can also be hooked to a carabiner and attached to a backpack. It’s also made of impact-resistant stainless steel that reviewers say can resist a tumble or two. Testers at Your Best Digs say it even survived a 10-foot drop onto concrete without spilling.

Despite its ruggedness, the Forge still shines when it comes to ease of use. Men’s Journal loves being able to lock open the spout for those times when you don’t want to be jamming a button all the time just to take a drink. Testers there also claim it's simple to clean for a travel mug, with a design that doesn’t require users to jam tiny brushes into nooks and crannies to ward off gunk and grime.

It’s also available in a smaller 12-ounce size and a good range of colors. Camelbak says the cap is dishwasher-safe, but not the body of the mug.

For all its convenience, the Forge doesn’t retain heat quite as well as some competing mugs. Your Best Digs says it can still keep your coffee hot for a couple of hours, but it’s not the best pick for buyers who want a hot drink after an entire day. Some Amazon reviewers say the plastic lid isn’t as sturdy as the body, and a few complain that the spout won’t let them take more than a sip at a time.

Pros: Convenient carry loop, resists cracks even from big drops, spout can be locked open for more convenient drinking, easy to clean

Cons: Plastic lid isn’t as durable as the rest of the mug, doesn’t keep heat in as well as some competitors, flow too regulated for some

The best travel mug for design freaks

Ello

Why you'll love it: The Ello Cole combines form, function, and value, making it a great choice for buyers who want a travel mug that can keep a lid on leaks and look good doing it.

A relative newcomer to the travel mug scene, the 16-ounce Ello Cole is turning heads in a category that usually prioritizes function over form. The colorful lid and cork base pop against an understated white body, and most Amazon reviewers cite design as a reason for their purchase.

Fortunately, owners say the Cole is more than a pretty face. Unlike other many design-forward travel mugs, it’s made of vacuum-insulated stainless steel and manages to keep coffee and tea hot for hours. The cork bottom is cute, but it also keeps the mug from slipping and sliding around on your desk. The slider lid keeps leaks to a minimum, reviewers say, and the whole mug is dishwasher-safe on the top rack.

Of course, the Cole isn’t perfect — though the lid is billed as leak-proof, the lack of a secondary lid lock means you probably won’t want to trust this one rolling around in a bag with your iPad. A few users also complain that the white paint scratched or peeled over time, and a few say the lid is tough to clean thoroughly. There’s also only one size, and just a few colors.

The best travel mug for tea drinkers

Why you'll love it: If you give your coffee maker a pass in favor of a steaming mug of tea, the Thermos Tea Tumbler will brew your favorite blend while you’re en route to the office.

Lovers of loose-leaf, look no further: This 12-ounce Thermos Tea Tumbler includes a handy little mesh infuser perfect for the tea drinker on the go. Good Housekeeping also says this tumbler is great at keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold no matter what beverage you prefer, while the vacuum seal earns a thumbs-up from HiConsumption for preserving freshness.

Many Amazon reviewers echo the good reviews about heat retention. They also appreciate the simplicity of the Thermos’ screw-top lid, which they say prevents leaks, but is much easier to clean and sturdier over the long haul than lids with lots of plastic parts or rubber gaskets. Some reviewers actually report that they’ve been using this mug for years.

On the other hand, if you lose small parts easily, give this tumbler a pass. The leak-proof travel lid, drinking lid, and infuser are all separate pieces. The infuser is optimized for larger leaves, and it may allow some smaller tea leaves to slip through, reviewers say. The tumbler only comes in one size, and if you don’t like the look of stainless steel, you’re out of luck. And as with many travel mugs, hand-washing is recommended.

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